There are fewer than 20,000 registered nurses in the state of West Virginia. According to a recent study, less than half of those registered nurses have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher. There is a need, now more than ever, for bachelor’s-prepared nurses who are trained to lead and manage other nurses. Nursing schools across the state of West Virginia that offer online classes as well as traditional campus settings in addition to distance learning options. Nurses are encouraged to seek information from multiple schools to make the best decision possible.
In our West Virginia RN program guide, find rankings for both ADN and BSN Degree programs, tuition costs, NCLEX passing rates, and more. Research key West Virginia RN Program information to help you compare program metrics and to apply to best RN program for your career in nursing.
In the State of West Virginia, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate's degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.
Nurses who graduate from an RN program can obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties, go on to earn an RN to BSN or RN to MSN degree.
BSN degree holders have options to earn an Advance Practice Register Nursing (APRN) degree and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP), or earn an advanced degree for a career in any number of nursing leadership roles such Nurse Educator or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
West Virginia RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN
| Compare RN Programs | ADN | BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Nursing Programs | 12 | 15 |
| Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 87.73% | 86.25% |
| NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 70.94% to 93.32% | 79.18% to 95.20% |
| Average Net Price | $11,802.00 | $13,337.21 |
| Average Net Price Range | $3,546.00 to $21,933.00 | $8,457.00 to $21,933.00 |
| Average Student Loan | $11,055.55 | $13,520.43 |
| Average Student Loan Range | $4,644.00 to $16,000.00 | $3,563.00 to $19,107.00 |
| See Additional Detail | ADN Rankings for West Virginia State | BSN Rankings for West Virginia State |
Best Ranked RN Programs in West Virginia
To help nursing students in their search for a top RN program, the education experts at RNCareers.org publish their annual findings of the best nursing schools for both West Virginia and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.
To create our rankings, we evaluated 11 ADN degree programs and 7 BSN degree programs in West Virginia. We obtained each institution’s first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates, the number of students taking the test, the program nursing accreditation and more. We then compared the results against other nursing programs in West Virginia to provide our state rankings. View our methodology.
Grade | Degree | University | WV Rank | US Rank | City | Type: | Offered As: | Accreditor(s): | More: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100.00 | ADN | Davis & Elkins College LPN-ADN program | 1 | 1 | Elkins | Davis & Elkins College is located in Elkins, West Virginia. They offer an ADN program. Unique to a community college, they also offer an online RN to BSN program. The online program can be completed in 12 months and students are kept with small cohorts so that they get to know their online peers. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 100.00 | ADN | Salem University | 1 | 1 | Salem | Private For-Profit | Campus, Online | See School Details | |||
| 93.93 | ADN | Marshall University Huntington Campus | 2 | 199 | Huntington | Marshall University is located in Huntington, West Virginia. They offer an ASN degree through a partnership with St. Mary’s School of Nursing and Marshall University. They also offer a BSN degree, which is the largest BSN program within a university setting in the region. They also offer an online RN to BSN option. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
| 92.79 | ADN | Southern WV C&T College Logan Campus | 3 | 253 | Mount Gay | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 92.59 | ADN | WVU at Parkersburg LPN-ADN Program | 4 | 264 | Parkersburg | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 91.53 | ADN | Blue Ridge C&T College | 5 | 300 | Martinsburg | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia. They offer an ASN degree option. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College originated over 40 years ago and was originally called Shepherd Community College. It was renamed Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in 2006. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 91.36 | ADN | WV Northern Comm. College Wheeling Campus Traditional | 6 | 311 | Wheeling | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 90.33 | ADN | Bluefield State College Bluefield Campus LPN-ADN | 7 | 348 | Bluefield | Public | Campus, Online | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 89.42 | ADN | Fairmont University LPN-ADN Program | 8 | 386 | Fairmont | Public | Campus | ACEN, CCNE | See School Details | ||
| 97.17 | BSN | University of Charleston | 1 | 63 | Charleston | University of Charleston is located in Charleston, West Virginia. They have several undergraduate nursing options – an ADN degree, a BSN degree and an RN to BSN option. The RN to BSN degree is completed online and can be finished in as little as 12 months. | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | See School Details | ||
| 96.68 | BSN | WV University Morgantown Campus BA-BS To BSN Program | 2 | 81 | Morgantown | West Virginia University is located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The cost of WVU is below the national average, at $7,992 per year for in-state tuition. They offer a BSN degree; their degree requires that their students log 1,100 clinical hours, 950 of which must take place in an Academic Medical Center with Level I Trauma designation. They also boast that their 2014 graduating class had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
| 94.16 | BSN | Marshall University Huntington Campus | 4 | 183 | Huntington | Marshall University is located in Huntington, West Virginia. They offer an ASN degree through a partnership with St. Mary’s School of Nursing and Marshall University. They also offer a BSN degree, which is the largest BSN program within a university setting in the region. They also offer an online RN to BSN option. | Public | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
| 89.54 | BSN | Shepherd University | 6 | 340 | Shepherdstown | Shepherd University is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. They offer a BSN program, an RN to BSN program and a DNP program. The RN to BSN program is a hybrid program. Their nursing department offers five simulation labs – acute care, critical care, mother-child, pediatrics and independent living. | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | |
| 88.81 | BSN | Wheeling University BA-BS To BSN Program | 7 | 355 | Wheeling | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
| 88.62 | BSN | West Virginia Wesleyan College | 8 | 360 | Buckhannon | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details |
Become an Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in West Virginia
RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in West Virginia
Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in West Virginia offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
West Virginia RN Licensing Requirements
West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses 101 Dee Drive, Suite 102 Charleston, WV 25311 (304) 558-3596 Fees: Initial licensing fee, RN: $51.50 License renewal (annual), RN: $65 Continuing Education Requirements: 12 contact hours per renewal periodRN Licensure by Exams
Candidates must complete a criminal background check before obtaining licensure. Candidates should schedule an appointment with L-1 Identity Solutions in order to meet this requirement. Scheduling can be completed online. The application fee is $51.50 and there is an additional $200 fee that is made payable to Pearson VUE, the company that hosts the NCLEX exam. There are two certifications that must be included with the application: someone who can attest to the good moral character of the candidate and one from the director or dean of the nursing program. A candidate may be issued a 90-day temporary permit after graduation but it will become invalidated if the is unsuccessful in passing the NCLEX exam on the first attempt. In this case, the candidate will need to reapply and pay additional fees. After two failed attempts, there will be additional requirements that will need to be met before obtaining authorization again.RN License by Endorsement
Nurses who obtained licensure in one of the other 50 states will be able to obtain licensure by endorsement in the state of West Virginia after submitting fingerprints at a local law enforcement agency.RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad
In some cases nurses who completed a program outside of the United States will also be able to obtain licensure in West Virginia. Candidates will be required to submit certification by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools prior to applying to take the NCLEX exam through the Board. There is a $60 fee for the endorsement.RN Salaries in West Virginia
The demand for nurses could grow by 23% by the year 2020 which may create up to 4,000 new jobs. Nurses who have obtained a bachelor’s degree will find that they are well prepared to handle the constantly evolving industry. Nurses in West Virginia earn a median income level of $53,100. The specific wages are dependent on the education and experience level of the individual nurse. Baccalaureate-prepared nurses receive training in leadership and management, which prepares them for administrative positions within hospitals and nursing homes.West Virginia Registered Nursing Salaries
The Charleston metropolitan area has the highest number of employed registered nurses along with the highest hourly wage and annual median wage.| Area name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | 4,350 | $26.64 | $54,850 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 4,280 | $26.51 | $54,320 |
| Morgantown, WV | 2,400 | (8)- | (8)- |
| Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH | 1,780 | $26.78 | $53,940 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 1,600 | $24.37 | $49,610 |
| Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 2,870 | $26.03 | $53,210 |
| North Central West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 2,840 | $25.47 | $52,430 |